'''Cumberland County, Pennsylvania''' genealogy and family history research page. Guide to genealogy, history, and courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, Civil War records, Revolutionary War records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries.

*'''Parent Counties''': Formed from [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]] County 27 January 1750.<ref name="HBG">[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50140092&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.''] (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), [FHL book 973 D27e 2002].</ref>

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[[Image:Pacumberland.jpg|right|500px|Pacumberland.jpg]]

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*'''County Seat:''' Carlisle<br>

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*'''Neighboring Counties''': {{PAGENAME}}&nbsp;'''residents''' may also have records in <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Adams County, Pennsylvania" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams_County,_Pennsylvania (accessed 17 July 2012).</ref>[[Perry County, Pennsylvania|Perry]] (north){{•}}[[Franklin County, Pennsylvania|Franklin]] (west){{•}}[[Adams County, Pennsylvania|Adams]] (south){{•}}[[Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Dauphin]] (east){{•}}[[York County, Pennsylvania|York]] (southeast)

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<br>The Scotch-Irish settled heavily in the Cumberland Valley. It is estimated that they made up 90% of the population in the eighteenth century.<ref name="way">Wayland F. Dunaway, ''The Scotch-Irish of Colonial Pennsylvania'' (Chapel Hill, N.C.: The University of North Carolina Press, 1944), 59-64. Free digital version at [http://collection1.libraries.psu.edu/u?/digitalbks2,18370 PA's Past: Digital Bookshelf at Penn State].</ref> <br>

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*'''Parent Counties''': Formed from [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]] County 27 January 1750.<ref name="HBG">[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50140092 ''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.''] (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), [FHL book 973 D27e 2002].</ref>

*'''Neighboring Counties''': {{PAGENAME}}&nbsp;'''residents''' may also have records in:<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Adams County, Pennsylvania" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams_County,_Pennsylvania (accessed 17 July 2012).</ref>

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**[[Perry County, Pennsylvania|Perry]] (north)

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**[[Franklin County, Pennsylvania|Franklin]] (west)

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**[[Adams County, Pennsylvania|Adams]] (south)

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**[[Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Dauphin]] (east)

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**[[York County, Pennsylvania|York]] (southeast)

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The Scotch-Irish settled heavily in the Cumberland Valley. It is estimated that they made up 90% of the population in the eighteenth century.<ref name="way">Wayland F. Dunaway, ''The Scotch-Irish of Colonial Pennsylvania'' (Chapel Hill, N.C.: The University of North Carolina Press, 1944), 59-64. Free digital version at [http://collection1.libraries.psu.edu/u?/digitalbks2,18370 PA's Past: Digital Bookshelf at Penn State].</ref>

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==== Boundary Changes ====

*'''10 March 1682:''' Chester County was created from the Colonial lands, including the whole part of future Cumberland County.

*'''10 March 1682:''' Chester County was created from the Colonial lands, including the whole part of future Cumberland County.

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*'''9 September 1784:''' [[Franklin County, Pennsylvania|Franklin]] County was set off, no part of it was taken for any future counties.<br>

*'''9 September 1784:''' [[Franklin County, Pennsylvania|Franklin]] County was set off, no part of it was taken for any future counties.<br>

*'''19 September 1789:''' [[Mifflin County, Pennsylvania|Mifflin]] County was created from Cumberland and [[Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Northumberland]] counties, including the parts for future [[Centre County, Pennsylvania|Centre]] and [[Juniata County, Pennsylvania|Juniata]] Counties.<br>

*'''19 September 1789:''' [[Mifflin County, Pennsylvania|Mifflin]] County was created from Cumberland and [[Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Northumberland]] counties, including the parts for future [[Centre County, Pennsylvania|Centre]] and [[Juniata County, Pennsylvania|Juniata]] Counties.<br>

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*'''22 March 1820:''' [[Perry County, Pennsylvania|Perry]] County was created from Cumberland County.

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*'''22 March 1820:''' [[Perry County, Pennsylvania|Perry]] County was created from Cumberland County.<ref name="PaLine">[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/21353742 ''Pennsylvania line : a research guide to Pennsylvania genealogy and local history, 1990 ed.''] (Laughlintown, Pa.: Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Services, 1990), [FHL book 974.8 D27p 1990]. </ref>

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For animated maps illustrating Pennsylvania county boundary changes, [http://www.mapofus.org/pennsylvania/ "Rotating Formation Pennsylvania County Boundary Maps"] (1673-1878) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

St. Patrick's, located in Carlisle, was constructed in 1807. Prior to it's construction the area was used as a supply station for the Jesuits.<ref>Pliny A. Durant, J. Fraise Richard, Bennett Bellman, "History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania" (Chicago: Warner, Beers and Company, 1886), 216. {{WorldCat|4592541}}; {{FHL|182299|item|disp=FHL book 974.84 H2h}}</ref>

Attempts to establish a congregation date from as early as 1753 with a permanent structure being built about 1825.<ref>Pliny A. Durant, J. Fraise Richard, Bennett Bellman, "History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania" (Chicago: Warner, Beers and Company, 1886), 212. {{WorldCat|4592541}}; {{FHL|182299|item|disp=FHL book 974.84 H2h}}</ref>

'''St. John's Church, Carlisle'''

'''St. John's Church, Carlisle'''

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===== Lutheran =====

===== Lutheran =====

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Lutherans began to establish their denomination in the county about the mid 1700s. However, major strides in the growth of the denomination did not occur in Cumberland County, until the mid 1800s.<ref>Pliny A. Durant, J. Fraise Richard, Bennett Bellman, "History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania" (Chicago: Warner, Beers and Company, 1886), 217. {{WorldCat|4592541}}; {{FHL|182299|item|disp=FHL book 974.84 H2h}}</ref>

The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of Pennsylvania. Major civil and criminal cases are heard in these courts. Judges also decide cases involving adoption, divorce, child custody, abuse, juvenile delinquency, estates, guardianships, charitable organizations and many other matters. The Common Pleas courts are organized into 60 judicial districts. {{PAGENAME}} has its own judicial district. Judges of the Common Pleas courts are elected to 10-year terms. A president judge and a court administrator serve in each judicial district.<ref>The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania http://www.pacourts.us/T/CommonPleas/ accessed 10 July 2012.</ref>

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The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of Pennsylvania. Major civil and criminal cases are heard in these courts. Judges also decide cases involving adoption, divorce, child custody, abuse, juvenile delinquency, estates, guardianships, charitable organizations and many other matters. The Common Pleas courts are organized into 60 judicial districts. {{PAGENAME}} has its own judicial district. Judges of the Common Pleas courts are elected to 10-year terms. A president judge and a court administrator serve in each judicial district.<ref>The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania http://www.pacourts.us/T/CommonPleas/ accessed 10 July 2012.</ref><br>

[http://ancestortracks.com/ Ancestor Tracks] has posted free, downloadable images from the [http://ancestortracks.com/CumberlandResources.html 1872 Atlas of Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania, from Actual Surveys by and under the Direction of F.W. Beers]. &nbsp;This wall map located in the Library of Congress shows major landowners and geographic sites at the date of publishing. &nbsp;While the physical maps are in the public domain, the images we have taken of the maps belong to us and are not to be used commercially. &nbsp;We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please attribute to Ancestor Tracks.

[http://ancestortracks.com/ Ancestor Tracks] has posted free, downloadable images from the [http://ancestortracks.com/CumberlandResources.html 1872 Atlas of Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania, from Actual Surveys by and under the Direction of F.W. Beers]. &nbsp;This wall map located in the Library of Congress shows major landowners and geographic sites at the date of publishing. &nbsp;While the physical maps are in the public domain, the images we have taken of the maps belong to us and are not to be used commercially. &nbsp;We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please attribute to Ancestor Tracks.

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==== Naturalization and Citizenship ====

==== Naturalization and Citizenship ====

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{{PANaturalization}}

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{{PANaturalization}}

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'''Original Naturalization Records on Microfilm'''<br>

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'''Original Naturalization Records on Microfilm'''<br> Naturalization records available for Cumberland County, Pennsylvania include the following:<br>

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'''Online Naturalization Indexes and Records'''<br>

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:*'''1820-1906''' – [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1192 Index to Declarations and Petitions in the Western District of Pennsylvania, US Circuit and District Courts] located in ''US Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995'' database on [http://ancestry.com Ancestry.com] - ($), National Archives publication M1208<br>

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:*'''1820-1930''' – [http://www.fold3.com/titleinfo.php?id=119&title=naturalizations_pa_western%2F&xid=319 Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. District Court, 1820-1930, and Circuit Court, 1820-1911, for the Western District of Pennsylvania] on [http://www.fold3.com/ Fold3.com] - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1537, incomplete for all counties<br>

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:*'''1820-1930''' - [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1554 Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. District Court, 1820-1930, and Circuit Court, 1820-1911, for the Western District of Pennsylvania] located in ''Selected US Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1790-1974'' database on [http://ancestry.com Ancestry.com] - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1537.<br>

The Cumberland County Historical Society was founded in 1874 an maintains http://www.historicalsociety.com/Template9.html The Hamilton Library], a [http://www.historicalsociety.com/Museum_Main.html Museum] and works with the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau to maintain and staff the county Visitors Center.

The Cumberland County Historical Society was founded in 1874 an maintains http://www.historicalsociety.com/Template9.html The Hamilton Library], a [http://www.historicalsociety.com/Museum_Main.html Museum] and works with the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau to maintain and staff the county Visitors Center.

See also [http://www.genealogyinc.com/pennsylvania/pa-vital-records/ How to order Pennsylvania Vital Records]

===== Birth =====

===== Birth =====

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Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary. The office of the Prothonotary is located in the [[{{PAGENAME}}#Courthouse|courthouse]] building. The [http://ccweb.ccpa.net/archives/Inventory.aspx?PSID=447 Cumberland County, PA Archives website] includes a list of divorces in the county between 1810 and 1967.

Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary. The office of the Prothonotary is located in the [[{{PAGENAME}}#Courthouse|courthouse]] building. The [http://ccweb.ccpa.net/archives/Inventory.aspx?PSID=447 Cumberland County, PA Archives website] includes a list of divorces in the county between 1810 and 1967.

Revision as of 23:25, 18 July 2014

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania genealogy and family history research page. Guide to genealogy, history, and courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, Civil War records, Revolutionary War records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries.

Church Records

Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. In Pennsylvania, church records are often used as a substitute for birth, marriage, and death information. For general information about Pennsylvania denominations, view the Pennsylvania Church Records wiki page.

Presbyterian

Silvers' Spring Presbyterian Church, near the present site of Mechanicsburg, was organized in 1734. Meeting House Spring Presbyterian Church was organized in Middleton Township (present site of Carlisle) in 1734. Big Spring Presbyterian Church was organized in what is now the town of Newville by 1737. Falling Spring Presbyterian Church was organized, at a Scotch-Irish settlement in what is now Franklin County (formerly Lancaster and then Cumberland counties), in 1738. Middle Spring Presbyterian Church, in Southampton Township, was organized by the 1740s. Upper West Conococheague Presbyterian Church was organized at what is now the town of Mercersburg in 1738. Another Presbyterian church at the "Conococheague Settlement" (present-day Greencastle) was organized by 1738.[3]

Court Records

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Genealogy court records are housed at the Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Courthouse. For many counties copies of court records may be found at the Pennsylvania State Archives and in the FamilySearch collection. Note that within these collections some films may contain the same records, but have different titles. Other titles are not duplicates. See Finding Court Records at other repositories within this section for links to the online catalogs for these two collections. Films at the Pennsylvania State Archives are not available for inter-library loan. If court records are available FamilySearch films may be available at a local Family History Center. Call ahead for availability.

Court of Common Pleas

The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of Pennsylvania. Major civil and criminal cases are heard in these courts. Judges also decide cases involving adoption, divorce, child custody, abuse, juvenile delinquency, estates, guardianships, charitable organizations and many other matters. The Common Pleas courts are organized into 60 judicial districts. Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Genealogy has its own judicial district. Judges of the Common Pleas courts are elected to 10-year terms. A president judge and a court administrator serve in each judicial district.[10]

Clerk of the Court

The Clerk of Courts prepares and maintains the records for the Criminal Division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Clerk signs and affixes the Seal of the Courts to all writs and processes, administers oaths and affirmations, and assumes custody of the seal and records of the Courts. The Clerk certifies and distributes orders of the Court. The Clerk also certifies and prepares bills of costs for the defendants and utilizes the computerized financial management system to disburse fines, costs and restitution.[11] For the Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Clerk of Courts address see the Courthouse section on this page.

Prothonotary

The office of the Prothonotary is the custodian of all civil matters in the county. This includes naturalization, immigration, equity actions, judgements, federal and local tax liens, city liens, family court, arbitrations, license suspension appeals, appeals to higher court, commercial code filings, applications for passports and divorce proceedings. See the Courthouse section on this page for the Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Prothonotary office information.

Orphans' Court

See Vital Records The Orphans' Court is responsible for a wide range of matters. The name of the Court is derived from the more general definition of "orphan," that being a person or thing that is without protective affiliation or sponsorship. This would include those not capable of handling their own affairs, minors, incapacitated persons, decedents estates, nonprofit corporations and trusts. It is the role of the Court to ensure that the best interests of the person or entity are not compromised.

It is believed the name of this court was borrowed from the Court of Orphans of the city of London, England which had the care and guardianship of children of deceased citizens, in their minority.[12]

For Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Orphans' Court contact information see the Courthouse section on this page.

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic Groups

Germans

Gazetteers

Genealogy

History

Published Histories

Land and Property

Land records in Cumberland County began in 1750. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts, indexes, mortgages, leases, grants, sheriff sales, land patents, and maps. Property records include liens as well as livestock brands and estray records.

Migration

Military

French and Indian War

In 1756, Colonel Armstrong recruited many Scotch-Irish men from Cumberland County. They attacked and destroyed the Indian village at Kittanning (present-day Armstrong County).[3]

Colonel Henry Bouquet led a group of Scotch-Irish men from Cumberland County to rescue Fort Pitt. They decisively defeated the Indians at the Battle of Bushy Run.[3]

Reverend John Elder, pastor of Derry and Paxtang churches, recruited Scotch-Irish rangers from his congregation in Cumberland County. Known as the Paxton Rangers or Paxton Boys, they provided security for white settlements between the Blue Mountains and the Susquehanna River. They are remembered for playing a prominent role in Pontiac's War.[3]

Later Records

Various military records, including Civil War Board of Relief (1861-1862), Military Bounty Correspondence (1862), Military Enrollment (1870-1874), Military Exonerations (1846-1865), Military Fund (1845-1873), Military Papers Miscellaneous (1840-1923), and Militia Rolls (1849-1861) have been digitized at the Cumberland County, PA Archives website - Free.

Naturalization and Citizenship

Naturalization records can contain information about immigration and nativity. Prior to 1906, it is rare to find the town of origin in naturalization records. See Pennsylvania Naturalization for more information about the types of records and availability.

Naturalizations granted at the county level were kept by the office of the Prothonotary. Naturalizations could also be granted on the Federal Court level.

Original Naturalization Records on Microfilm Naturalization records available for Cumberland County, Pennsylvania include the following:

Obituaries

Obituaries are generally found in local newspapers where the person died. However, sometimes an obituary is found in the location from which he or she originated. To find an obituary, see the information under the Newspaper heading

Sometimes the fastest way of finding obituaries is to call or email the local public library in the area where the person died. If the library does not have newspapers, a librarian often will know where they are kept. If a death date is known, and the newspapers are at the library, someone on staff will usually make a search for a small fee, or will indicate someone who will do the search.

Officials

Cumberland County has preserved records of local men who served in various government capacities during the 1700s and 1800s, including assessors, attorneys, auditors, clerks of court, commissioners, constables, coroners, election officials, judges, juries, justices of the peace, lumber inspectors, notaries, policemen, poorhouse directors, prothonotaries, recorders of deeds, registrars of wills, sheriffs, surveyors, and treasurers. The records have been indexed and digitized at the Cumberland County, PA Archives website - Free.

Constables helped maintain law and order in the community. Many can be identified:

1789-1927 - Constables' Returns 1789-1927 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Identifies locals who served as constables by name and township.

Probate Records

Probate matters in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Genealogy are handled by the Orphans' Court and start when the county was created. To obtain original probate records, contact the Orphan's Court in the County Courthouse.

In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates of decedents, incompetents, and minors; appointment and control of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills involving probate matters; inheritance tax appeals and various petitions and motions.

Online Probate Records

Original probate records for some Pennsylvania counties are available free online as digital images at FamilySearch.org. The dates vary significantly for each county and not all counties are listed. Some counties may only have probate indexes. This Pennsylvania collection of images may be browsed through the links listed below:

The Pennsylvania Archives collection contains county archive records that can be searched onsite. Currently the Archives' staff cannot provide research or make copies of these records. Their collections include Almshouse Registers; Tax records; Birth, Death and Marriage Indexes and Records; Midwife records; African American records; Wills; Deeds; Naturalizations; Coroner's inquests; and Orphan's Court dockets. A list of the Archive's county holdings are on Microfilm or Manuscript form.

Taxation

1778-1782, 1785 - State and Supply Transcripts of the County of Cumberland: For the Years 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782 and 1785. (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 20). Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books - free.

Vital Records

Vital records are handled by the County Orphans' Court. Between the years 1852-1855 Pennsylvania made a failed attempt to record birth, marriage and death events at the county level. While the records for that time period are available, there were few events recorded. County marriage records were kept in earnest in 1885. Births and deaths, at the county level, were begun in 1893 and kept through 1905. Abstracts and copies of vital records are available for some counties, but most are incomplete. For the most complete set of records, always contact the County Orphans' Court.

Birth

Early births 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. See the heading Court Records on this page for contact information.

Indexes for Pennsylvania birth records are available through the Department of of Health for 1906 and 1907. Once an individual is located in the index a non certified Birth certificate can be obtained by writing and sending $3.00 to:

1725-1976 - Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1709-1940 - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is not necessarily intended to index any specific set of records. This index is not complete for any particular place or region. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index or Vital Records Index collections.

Pre-1810 – Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties. Includes 35,000 marriage records from vol. VIII of of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives.

Divorce

Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary. The office of the Prothonotary is located in the courthouse building. The Cumberland County, PA Archives website includes a list of divorces in the county between 1810 and 1967.

Death

Early deaths 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. See the heading Court Records on this page for contact information.

Indexes for Pennsylvania death records are available through the Department of Health for 1906 through 1962. Once an individual is located in the index a non certified death certificate can be obtained obtained by writing and sending $3.00 to:

↑Philip Syng Physick Conner,"Registers of the Anglican Church in Pennsylvania prior to 1800," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 12 (1888):341-349. For free online access, see WeRelate.